Residents feel 'very safe' at Leitrim community hospital - HIQA report

St Patrick’s Community Hospital has welcomed the publication of a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), following an inspection earlier this year at the Carrick on Shannon based facility.

The hospital, which provides 24-hour care for 46 residents, at the time 41, requiring nursing and palliative support, was visited by HIQA inspectors on February 12th. 

The findings, published on July 8th, assessed compliance with 16 regulations. Of these, nine were fully compliant, six substantially compliant, and one non-compliant.

The only regulation that the hospital failed to comply with as around governance and management when it was deemed that a person in charge was involved in the governance, operational management and administration of the health care step-down unit. This was “not part of the designated centre,” the report read.

It further noted shortfalls in well-maintained areas, night-time staffing levels, and the effectiveness of fire safety precautions. 

Following the inspection, the hospital has implemented additional measures. These include a fire safety review completed in February, the introduction of daily fire door checks, and a staffing review, which resulted in approval for extra night-time staff on the ground floor. The HSE has confirmed that monitoring of staffing and safety systems will continue on an ongoing basis.

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In a statement, Frank Morrison, Head of Service for Older Persons in the HSE’s Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO 1), said:

“We welcome HIQA’s findings and recognise the important role of the Regulator in promoting safety and quality in healthcare. A number of actions are already underway to address areas identified for improvement. We will continue to work closely with HIQA to ensure compliance across all designated Older Persons services.”

Inspectors observed that residents received care in line with their assessed needs, and that staff were respectful, attentive, and demonstrated a strong knowledge of residents’ preferences and routines. Staff interactions were described as kind and person-centred, especially for those living with dementia.

According to the report, residents expressed high levels of satisfaction, telling inspectors they felt “very safe” and confident speaking with staff if any concerns arose. Live music sessions were highlighted as a popular feature of the hospital’s activity programme, contributing positively to residents’ quality of life.

All staff had up-to-date mandatory training in key areas, including safeguarding, fire safety, and safe handling, while further professional development was actively supported.

The full HIQA report is available here.